Skin types: what they are, how to determine yours and how to properly care for your face

What is the difference between skin type and skin condition?

Before choosing products and skincare routines, you need to know two basic concepts: skin type and skin condition.

Although there is much overlap between these two concepts, they differ on one central point: we are born with our skin type, and this characteristic is more or less stable throughout life, while skin conditions often change and are treatable.

Sounds a little confusing? Let's take an example: Sensitive skin is a skin type because a person is born with a reduced tolerance to touch, temperature changes, changes in humidity, and even sometimes hypersensitivity to certain ingredients.

On the other hand, irritated skin is a condition and not a type because it is a temporary condition and can be corrected with proper care and diet. So you can have sensitive skin without irritation. Consider, for example, sunburn; This is a type of skin irritation that can be relieved by using after-sun products and stopping sun exposure.

Sunburn

Why is this important to know? Many people end up misjudging their skin by confusing concepts. This means they choose products that are not effective for their skin or may even make it worse.

A classic example: patients often think they have oily skin, but in reality they are mistreating it. You can tell about improper care by the fact that the skin looks oily on the surface, but when you try to wrinkle your nose or forehead, it turns out to be wrinkled and dry. This condition is associated with the use of the wrong products, such as drying products for oily skin, having a completely different type. This causes the body to defend itself by increasing sebum production. If you switch to proper care, this condition will disappear.

Care for combination skin of different ages

With age, many people's mixed skin changes to normal (35 years), and after 40 it begins to fade. To restore the tone of aging skin, substances that have an anti-aging effect are required. For this reason, skincare products are divided into age categories to solve different problems.

Up to 25

Until the age of 25, the skin should be thoroughly moisturized and non-aggressive cleansers should be used. Her main need is hydration, and her problem is acne. Masks will help reduce acne.

After 25

The skin needs hydration, prevention of early aging using products with hyaluronic acid, protection from external factors with antioxidants.

After 30

Signs of aging begin to appear on the epidermis. This is due to a decrease in the amount of hyaluronic acid, which requires intensive hydration. Cosmetics should have a rejuvenating effect.

After 40

Upon reaching 40 years of age, you can fight the aging process with the help of salon procedures and the use of anti-aging products.

What determines skin type and condition?

Skin type is genetically determined by our parents and can be measured by the level of sebum production. Overactive sebaceous glands lead to oily skin, while underactive sebaceous glands cause dry skin. Can also be determined genetically: skin reactivity, capillary activity and sensitivity.

The condition of the skin varies depending on external influences and factors such as surgery, medications, stress, environment and disease.

How to determine your type yourself?

The easiest way is to evaluate the appearance of the face.

All you need for this is a mirror and good lighting. If a recently washed face shines over the entire surface, and the pores are enlarged, then the epidermis is probably oily. If shine is observed only in the central part, then we can talk about a combined type. Matte, delicate skin, prone to flaking - most likely dry. Normal skin is smooth, elastic and lacks pronounced shine.

The second method is using a cosmetic wipe.

Three to four hours before the test you need to wash your face, without using any creams, serums or even toner after that. After the specified period, you need to apply a napkin to your face and see if there are any greasy stains on it. If they are present over the entire surface, then the skin is oily. The presence of abundant discharge in the T-zone and its absence in the cheek area is a sign of a mixed type. Small oily spots indicate normal skin. If there is no discharge at all, this indicates dryness of the epidermis.

There are various questionnaires that allow you to assess the level of activity of the sebaceous glands. Questions may be devoted to the reaction of the epidermis to various cosmetics and washing. For example, if after washing there is a feeling of tightness, this indicates dryness, and the release of fat in response to the use of a nourishing cream indicates increased activity of the sebaceous glands.

Dry skin

Dry skin comes in many forms and can – if it is very dry – resemble sensitive skin. This is due to a weakened protective barrier. Dry skin often lacks moisture, both in the form of water and oil, and can also become very red.

Features of dry skin: has visible dryness and small pores, is prone to wrinkles and has poor elasticity. The skin in some areas is dense and rough. You feel tightness and itching, especially after washing your face, and your skin is dry. It is also characterized by surface peeling and periodic redness.

Dry skin

Pronounced superficial and deep wrinkles on dry skin

It is important to distinguish between dry and dehydrated skin:

• Dry skin is caused by a lack of oil secretion;
• Dehydration is a temporary skin condition that can be corrected with moisturizing treatments. Skin dehydration is caused by climatic and environmental conditions.

If your skin describes more than one of the following, you probably have dry skin:

• It has a matte surface and feels dry to the touch, and in some cases almost rough;
• Contracts when wrinkling the nose or forehead;
• The pores are almost invisible;
• Quickly absorbs the cream;
• Problems with facial makeup, often applied unevenly;
• There is no great tendency for pimples to appear, but they can occur in places;
• Skin care products may sting when applied;
• Fine lines and wrinkles on the skin are noticeably reduced after using moisturizer.

Care according to the seasons

In the hot season, the mixed-type epidermis secretes more subcutaneous fat than in the cold season - under different external conditions, care must be appropriate.

Summer care

In summer, the skin requires constant care due to increased activity of the sebaceous glands. It is advisable to carry out the cleansing procedure using appropriate gels that contain components with anti-inflammatory effects.

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Once a week you need peeling with scrubs and at least twice - nutrition with a mask. Direct sunlight has a negative effect on the epidermis and promotes aging. To avoid premature formation of wrinkles in the scorching sun, it is necessary to use special products in the form of creams.

Winter care

At sub-zero temperatures, combination skin is prone to flaking, so it needs to be moisturized. Peeling with scrubs during winter is best done no more than once within fourteen days. Before going outside, it is recommended to apply protective cream (at least half an hour before).

In winter, you need to increase the amount of foods rich in vitamins (sour cream, cottage cheese, eggs) in your diet. In winter, it is possible to use a moisturizing cream with a thicker consistency than in summer.

Spring care

During spring, oily areas of mixed skin require more frequent touching with a napkin due to increased production of subcutaneous sebum. Foods high in fat should be excluded from the diet - their consumption will lead to increased activity of the sebaceous glands.

Much attention should be paid to cleansing: regular use of masks is advisable. The temperature outside the window changes from minus to plus – the use of protective cream is no longer required.

Autumn care

After a hot summer, with the onset of autumn days, solar activity also decreases, so the skin no longer requires protection from the scorching rays of the sun with special means. Now she needs nutrition in the form of regular use of masks, especially in dry areas. It is necessary to increase the amount of vitamins in the diet or use them in the form of dietary supplements.

The article is advisory in nature: before use, consultation with a specialist is required to determine the presence of contraindications.

Oily skin

Oily skin is one of the most common skin types, and also one of the most challenging, as it often causes a number of other problems. It is no coincidence that the words “greasy and dirty” are often used in combination. Although oily skin is not necessarily prone to acne, this type is at higher risk of developing acne. But according to research, oily skin prevents the appearance of wrinkles.

Features of oily skin: shiny, with large pores and fine wrinkles. May have a tendency to comedones (blackheads) and pimples. The skin has a rougher texture and an oily surface. You often feel the urge to wash your face, especially in the afternoon when the most oil is released.

Oily skin with enlarged and visible pores

Acne on oily skin

If you can cross off a few items on this list, it means you have oily skin:

• The face appears oily, both with and without makeup. Fat is felt when touched. Excess fat can occur on the face, neck, shoulders and back.
• Skin tends to become shiny throughout the day. The shine appears relatively quickly even after cleansing.
• Enlarged and visible pores around the nose, forehead and cheeks;
• Blackheads and pimples appear and can cover the entire face;
• The skin does not like oily cream;
• Makeup tends to slide off my skin quickly and it's hard to find a solid base underneath;
• Fewer fine lines and wrinkles than people of similar age.

Steps to care for combination skin

Daily care for mixed-type epidermis includes three stages:

• cleansing;
• toning;
• hydration.

In addition to daily care, there are procedures that are performed at certain intervals:

• deep cleansing;
• nutrition (masks).

The first procedure is performed no more than once every seven days, masks are applied at least twice a week. The main rule for caring for the epidermis of the face: products for cleansing, toning, moisturizing, nourishing, and deep cleansing must be appropriate for the age and type of skin.

Cleansing

As was written above, the use of toilet soap should be avoided in order to avoid drying out dry areas and enhancing the work of the sebaceous glands in oily areas. The T-zone requires the presence of components with an anti-inflammatory effect. This area has a high fat content, so substances that promote the development of fungi on the epidermis are highly undesirable.

Toning

The toning procedure is an integral part of the skin care process. A lotion or tonic that does not contain alcohol can act as a tonic agent. It is recommended that the components of the product include substances with an anti-inflammatory effect (panthenol, bisabolol). Using toning:

• the structure is leveled;
• the functioning of the sebaceous glands is regulated;
• pH is normalized;
• pores are reduced.

After cleansing, combination skin needs hydration.

Hydration

The moisturizing stage should be given special attention in winter, when caring for mixed skin is similar to caring for dry skin: special products are applied at least half an hour before going outside, and a moisturizer is applied daily. In hot summers, it is advisable to additionally spray areas with dry skin with thermal water. Products used for daily moisturizing can be in the form of hydrogels or creams, which contain:

• herbal extracts;
• hyaluronic acid;
• ceramides;
• vegetable oils.

It is not recommended to use cream or hydrogel with an oily texture to avoid clogging of pores.

Nutrition and peeling

Nutrition and deep cleansing procedures are intended for different skin zones: the first is dry, the second is oily. Nutrition is carried out using masks, they must be applied once or twice a week, deep cleansing - once (in winter, once every two weeks). The mask can be prepared independently at home or purchased ready-made; the procedure helps:

• normalization of metabolic processes;
• nutrition of the epidermis;
• toning;
• relieving inflammation.

Clay is suitable for application to the entire face; it will reduce oily shine and will not dry out the skin. It can be used in its pure form, diluted with water to a paste consistency, or as part of homemade masks.

Deep cleansing is performed using:

• scrubs;
• peeling;
• film masks.

The products are applied only to oily skin in the T-zone; the deep cleansing procedure can be performed at home or in the salon. Scheme for peeling yourself at home:

1. Wash your face and lubricate your eyelids with a cream with a rich consistency.
2. Place two tablespoons of dry chamomile, linden or mint in a bowl and pour two liters of boiling water.
3. Tilt your face over the bowl and cover yourself with a towel to get the effect of a bath or sauna.
4. After ten minutes, pat your face dry with a tissue and apply a peeling product (store-bought or homemade) according to the instructions or recipe.
5. Rinse off the product with warm water.

Scrubs cleanse, tone the skin and improve blood flow

Combination skin

Combination skin is a combination of several skin types. In fact, everyone's skin matches to a greater or lesser extent. However, in combination skin, there is a clear difference between the skin in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) and the cheeks.

If your face is oily with noticeable pores and rashes in the T zone (forehead, nose, chin), but dry or normal on the cheeks and jaw area, then you have combination skin. Caring for this type of skin is quite complicated, since you need to simultaneously take care of opposite conditions - dry and oily areas. Your goal is to achieve balance.

An oily T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and dry cheeks indicate so-called combination skin

If your skin describes more than one of the following, you probably have combination skin:

• The skin on the cheeks behaves completely differently than in the T-zone; they are drier;
• The skin becomes oily and shiny during the day, especially around the nose, as well as on the forehead and chin;
• Enlarged pores around the nose;
• Black spots around the nose;
• Acne appears in the T-zone, but rarely on the cheeks and upper forehead;
• It is difficult to find a foundation that will look perfect on the entire face;
• Different types of products and procedures can be used depending on the area.

Dark skin - care features

Its owners produce melanin pigment in sufficient quantities, so sunburn practically does not occur on dark skin. Wrinkles appear on it quite late, but when they appear, the face immediately looks tired.

Features of dark skin:

• Pigment problems. Dark spots from acne, scars and scratches often remain on the face and décolleté. During pregnancy, dark-skinned women often develop age spots that do not go away.
• Dark skin, like all other skin types, can be oily, sensitive, dry or even prone to rosacea, and therefore needs care.

Recommended procedures:

• Chemical peeling to lighten and even out skin tone. The procedure must be performed by a very experienced specialist. Too much exposure will cause age spots to appear.
• Dysport or Botox and fillers based on hyaluronic acid and other components. For dark skin, these medications are as necessary as for other types.

If you have skin problems, such as clogged pores and inflamed areas, additional cosmetic procedures will be needed.

Normal skin

Normal skin is not the most common type. It has a normal level of moisture and oil - this is the skin in balance. This skin type rarely experiences really big problems: its condition may vary, but in general it is easy to maintain.

Features of normal skin: Has a healthy glow and color, without large pores, wrinkles or fine lines. The skin is soft, moist, with a smooth and fine structure.

If your skin is uniform and balanced, rarely suffers from oiliness, breakouts or dryness, and you have no adverse reactions to various skin care products, congratulations on winning the genetic lottery and having normal skin.

Normal facial skin type

Although this type of skin is very easy to care for, unfortunately, it is characterized by signs of premature aging.

If your skin describes more than one of the following, you probably have normal skin:

• Looks completely normal, even without scrub and creams;
• Beautiful and soft;
• The skin around the nose may sometimes be a little shiny;
• Most cosmetics are suitable;
• Pimples and blackheads are rare, but they do happen from time to time;
• The pores are not very visible;
• Skin changes slightly from season to season;
• Makeup does not come off or smudge.

Sensitive skin

Sensitive skin is best described as “reactive” skin. This means that it reacts and changes character depending on its environment. Depending on how sensitive your skin is, it can react to everything from changes in temperature or humidity, the cosmetics you use, touch, and more. Many people confuse dry or irritated skin with sensitive skin, but in reality, sensitive skin may be oilier and suffer from impurities and breakouts.

Features of sensitive skin: it is thinner, lighter and more sensitive, with impaired barrier function and a large number of capillaries. The skin has an uneven structure. Requires special care and caution when using new cosmetics. People with sensitive skin who are more exposed to the sun develop eczema or rosacea.

Rosacea on sensitive facial skin

If your skin describes more than one of the following, you probably have sensitive skin:

• Varies greatly from season to season;
• Makeup and grooming are often associated with acne;
• Tends to become hot and red when touched or physically affected (such as from cleansing masks or facial scrubs);
• Lots of redness on the skin in general;
• Allergy, rash, itching, dryness;
• Flushes easily from heat or cold;
• Not all means are suitable. Often experiences adverse reactions when using new products;
• Unpredictable and can change greatly from day to day.

How to determine skin condition

The condition of your skin is constantly changing and depends on everything from hormones, diet, environment and the products you use. Therefore, pimples, redness, excessive dryness and other problems can sometimes appear, regardless of skin type.

All skin types are susceptible to skin conditions, but some are more common in some skin types than others.

Typically, cosmetologists distinguish 4 different skin conditions, and you can suffer from several diseases at the same time. You can also easily find yourself in a situation where you are not experiencing any of the following problems, and thus your normal skin type is perfectly “balanced”.

The type of skin condition you have will determine which products and treatments you should choose based on what you want from your skin care routine.

Irritated skin

Irritation can occur in all skin types and manifests itself in different ways from time to time. There are many reasons for this: temperature changes, exposure to the sun, food, diet, touch, bacteria and much more.

If one or more of the following descriptions apply to you, this is a sign that your skin is currently irritated:

• The skin suddenly turns red;
• Suddenly becomes warm;
• There is itching, tingling or burning;
• Suddenly a lot of pimples appear - even where there are usually none.

Skin type and aging

With age, the epidermis and deep layers of the dermis lose moisture. This process occurs most quickly in those with dry skin that is not protected by sebaceous gland secretions. In this case, the face quickly becomes covered with a network of wrinkles. Happy owners of a normal type age more slowly, and those who in their youth suffered from excessive oiliness of the epidermis continue to enjoy the smoothness of their faces for a long time. However, time does not spare them either: dense and thick skin is not prone to the formation of fine wrinkles, but deep folds often appear on it.

The process of withering is accompanied by a loss of elasticity and the appearance of sagging. Large and small wrinkles, pigmentation, and vascular defects appear. Facial features lose clarity, volume moves from the cheekbones downwards - jowls and a double chin appear.

All these changes can be corrected in the early stages. The main thing is not to miss the moment and visit a cosmetologist in time, who will develop an effective anti-age strategy taking into account your skin type and age-related changes.

Contaminated skin

The condition is characterized by open and closed comedones (blackheads) and blockages beneath the surface of the skin. The skin has an uneven surface.

Contaminated skin with closed comedones

The black color of acne is oxidized sebum, not dirt. The second type of blockage, a pimple, is located on the outside of the pore and is often yellow in color. You probably tried to squeeze them out, and saw that the contents were a yellowish liquid. The final type of blockage is a pimple that sits under the skin, and it tends to be very painful and uncomfortable and also takes longer to heal.

If one or more of the following descriptions apply to you, this is a sign that your skin is clogged:

• Small blackheads around the skin, mainly located around the nose and cheeks;
• Swollen pimples with a yellow “head” around the face. They vary in size and usually occur on the forehead, around the mouth and near the nose;
• You experience uncomfortable, swollen, and painful pimples that sit under the skin and can be painful.

Dehydrated skin

This condition causes dandruff and very fine wrinkles. Comedones (blackheads) and excessive sebum production may occur. The skin on the surface feels tight, especially on the forehead and above the cheekbones.

Dehydrated skin

Dehydrated skin is very common, but it is easy to treat. It goes without saying that drinking plenty of water is important, and special care is also important.

If one or more of the following applies to you, this is a sign of dehydrated skin:

• The skin turns red, but does not seem irritated;
• The appearance is dry and small, fine lines appear, especially pronounced around the eyes, forehead and mouth. Immediately after applying the cream they are much less noticeable;
• The skin quickly absorbs care products.